I’ve come a long way from my first art studio in the dusty, cold garage in our Alberton home to the beautiful space in our backyard in Pretoria now.
When we found out we were pregnant I knew that I had to make an outside studio a priority. When we moved into our home in Pretoria I set up my studio in the middle of the house, and true to my messy nature, it tended to spread out across the entire house. My equipment was spread between the garage, house, outside areas, and really any spot I could find and negotiate my way into.
I’ve really tried to be as non-toxic as I can be with my printmaking process, but the reality is that there are no true non-toxic processes – only less-toxic. My chemicals, inks, emulsions, paints, acid baths, and sharp tools, all immediately looked a lot more dangerous and imposing than it did before pregnancy. A lot of my equipment is also very bulky, with sharp edges, and loud noises. With a baby on it’s way, the home-studio was no longer a functional space. Nor was the idea of renting a studio space outside of our property.
We are fortunate enough to have a really large property with a generous backyard. (it used to be a small vegetable farm in the 50s). So, we began to plan the studio space. Early on in the planning, Mark found the most magnificent 3m tall doors on Facebook Marketplace only a few roads down from us! We quickly bought them and then planned the studio around the door specs. I wanted an industrial look and feel, so that I wouldn’t feel bad messing the space up. I’ve only been in here for little over a month and the floor and walls already have so much ink and paint splattered on them. I also needed a space with a lot of natural light, so we sourced beautiful large cottage pane windows for my office section of the studio, and re-used windows from our main home renovation as the other windows in the studio. In fact, the window from my old home-studio is now in my new garden studio!
This was my home-studio space (after we removed all the walls). This was me trying to save every piece of lino to possibly repurpose them into linoleum prints – but the lino was too old and brittle. 
This was the space we used for the studio. You can see the L-Shape of the studio, with the small nook at the back. 
The build in progress! 
Project managers Pluto and Marshall were always on site. 
Plaster and roof up! This was a BIG day. 
First lick of paint! LOOK AT THOSE DOORS!
It took two weeks. TWO WEEKS. But it would be amiss if I didn’t tell you that the only reason we were able to do this so quickly and beautifully was by the generosity of our family and friends. I cannot explain to you how enormously stressful this renovation has been. There were days where I felt utterly broken and that I would never get out of the anxious muddy haze I was trapped in. Yet, at every step in the process we were rallied by family and friends bringing us meals, groceries, distractions and support. I can say without a shadow of a doubt that I would not have made it through were it not for these humans!
During this time, my pillar of emotional strength (you know who you are) stood with me in my backyard and told me, “just blink a few times and imagine it finished, visualise the end of this”. It was impossible to do that then, but as I sit in my studio now, it really does feel like it was a few blinks ago that it was muddy plaster and a dusty catastrophe.
The front of my studio currently. We still need to lay the paving again, but all in it’s time. 
The first view I get every morning. 
My swinging chair just outside the studio. It is an escape and space of rest when I need it.
I could not be happier in my studio space. Now, all my equipment fits functionally all in one space. I’m far away from the noise of the street, tucked away in the lush beauty of our garden. I’m joined daily by my dogs and cats who have each found their respective favourite spots in the studio. There is space beside my in the office nook to have a camping cot, or pram for Fynch. There is sunshine flooding in
This is a view of my office space. The studio is built in a sort-of L-shape. We needed to build it around existing structures in our garden (the boerhole outhouse, garage, and flatlet) 
My view when sitting in the office space. 
Mark is building up a space of cheerful flowers in the front on my studio. Mostly pink and white geraniums 🙂 
We had to hack this tree quite a bit, so we are pouring more love into it by filling it with beautiful hanging plants, bird feeders and a swing chair. As you enter the studio! The ceiling has a sharp pitch because of the massive doors in the front. It makes this space so airy and cool in summer – exactly what I need. 
In my office space I have this lovely white board from Sebastian Rivett-Carnac. I use it as my space to display current inspiration, as well as my work-in-progress bits and pieces. The lovely book press below it was a lucky find at an antique shop in Port Elizabeth from my dad. 
Across from my office, as you enter the studio, is my pin board with most of my tools. My Printing Press, Eve, named after Frankenstein’s Bride, was made from an antique washer-ringer machine. She is in prime position. She prints like a beaut. She makes me look like a good printmaker. I love her so. 
Just behind Eva is my most loved and used space in the studio. Screenprinting space! My enourmous vacuum table used to belong to Mandy Conidaris, and has been the best investment I have ever made. My entire studio day is spent in a sort-of ritualistic process designed around screenprinting. The shape and flow of each day is set by my screenprinting. 
To the left of the vacuum table, in a little hidden nook, is my exposure unit and storage drawers.Through those windows is the garage (Mark’s man cave). 
There she is. Such a beautiful babe. And then just above her, is ANOTHER babe – Carmen Ford. I painted this portrait ages ago, and I hang it close to me to remind me of where my love and passion for printmaking began – within a special friendship.
Well, that’s that! I hope you enjoyed this and come visit soon! x